Hello fellow enthusiasts and happy new year!

I have a 2008 Mazda RX-8 completely stock besides a cat-back exhaust. My car has been making this tapping/knocking noise for the past 2 years and I just cannot find what's wrong with it. I have searched for videos and forum threads to see if anyone is experiencing the same issue and found nothing. It only happens when I turn left (I cannot replicate the sound turning to the right). The suspension and steering is tight! PLEASE HELP!

Here is the link to a short video I made on youtube so y'all can hear it.

https://youtu.be/mmthGSCqKQw

Thank you so much in advance!

 

Rear axle CV joint?

 

Best way to find out is jack the front up and turn the wheel. You should be able to easily identify where the sound is coming from. Have a similar issue in one of my power steering racks. It works perfectly but it makes a clicking noise when turning to the left, just like yours.

 

Cant really hear much in the video, is it just a single tap when turning right, or something that taps repeatedly with the speed of rotation/vehicle speed?

Look into whether the front lower control arm attachment points nearest the door are fully tightened to spec. It might look and feel tight on a lift, but be loose while sitting on the ground and make a clunk/tap whenever you transfer weight on/off it. Ask how I know

 

Thanks for replying, guys!
@dannobre I'm sure the noise comes from the front but I see how you'd think it's a bad CV joint, sounds just like it.
@CaymanRotary Thanks man, it never occurred to me to do that and now I feel like a dummy lol. Great tip!
@Loki it's not a single tap. You can hear it 5 seconds in when I'm turning left (but you have to jack the volume up to hear it!). Sounds similar to a bad CV joint in a FWD car. I'll definitely try to check those attachment points with the suspension loaded and unloaded. I gotta get me some ramps for sure!

 

So I was able to get under my car but everything looked neat besides cracked rubber on my shocks and this “end link” looking piece (see pictures). Any other ideas?

 

Thats the headlight level sensor...it is unlikely to cause that kind of noise.

 

Did you turn the wheel while it was up to see if you could find the noise? Requires two people, you really gotta get under there. Things may "look" good but seeing them in motion can reveal flaws.

 

Yes, I did @caymanrotary and it wouldn't make any sounds. I'm betting the suspension has to be loaded... what a pain in the butt. I'll have to find a way to attach a camera down there and go for a spin.

 

If you have that option for sure. Definitely not the steering rack, you would have heard it.

 

I'm sure you checked the wheel bearings...

it seems to be a rotational noise... so you don't really have that many options

 

that's correct @caymanrotary. Steering feels great, and I believe if the rack was bad it would knock when I turn side to side.
@dannobre yep I checked the wheel bearing, no play, nothing, nada. I'll post an update when I figure out where and how put a camera down there. Thanks guys

 

if you have eliminated the sway bar bushings, you might check to make sure the subframe isn't loose at some point, have seen that more than once on smallish cars, and it produced a scenario like you describe. also if you have access to a drive on ramp hoist you can be under it while someone steers it and you bounce things

 

take it to the dealer and let them have a look
they have a car lift and it should cost you less than 100$ just to diagnose it

you have had NO accidents, correct?
does the noise change at different speeds? could be wheel bearing
broken control arms should make noise going straight was well as turning
sway bar bushings tend to make clunk noises when you go over speed bumps and pull into parking lots or go diagonally over inclines